Third Qualifying Round 15 October 2011

WHITBY TOWN V BLYTH SPARTANS

Another round, another sunny day in Whitby, but the temperature is about 20 degrees lower, requiring a woolly jumper for the first time this season. Of course the numerous travelling Blyth fans, being Spartan, are unconcerned with the elements and are busy tying their banners to the stop netting behind one goal.

The teams come out and are soon in action, Whitby in the now familiar blue and Blyth in a modern version of their traditional green & white hoops. Two minutes into the game a Blyth shot skims the bar, and then chances are created at each end as a Whitby header is saved and Blyth attack beats the offside trap but ends in a shot blazed over the bar.

Blyth become the more comfortable in possession and after 12 minutes get a free kick in the centre circle. This is angled in dangerously between keeper and the defensive line allowing Michael Tate to run in and glance a header into the corner of the net. With the lead secured Spartans continue to dominate with neat football; Whitby are reduced to playing long balls into the wind which are rarely won by the forwards, who even then find themselves without support.

It is no surprise then when Blyth work the ball down the right, with the best move of the game so far, and cross the ball to Chris Emms all alone on the edge of the box. He has an age to line up the volley but fails to connect cleanly, allowing a goal line clearance, which comes straight back to him; this time there is no mistake and he steers a shot low into the corner for a deserved 2-0 lead.

With five minutes still to go to half time Blyth go for the jugular and Whitby have to defend desperately, throwing their bodies in the way of shots, and somehow manage to get to the break only the two goals adrift. In the second half they will have the wind behind them but will have to use the ball a lot better for it to make any difference.

Early in the second half Whitby are able to get some possession and apply pressure, but lack composure when the half chances crop up. They swap the centre forward as the big man Hassan is getting nowhere, and Faichney comes on to give a different, more mobile option. But as the half wears on the Whitby storm is blowing out without any impact on the Spartan goal, and Blyth appear to regain control, coming close with an angled shot over the bar.

Whitby are now pushing up the centre half Burgess, and with 10 minutes left it is him that heads on a hopeful long ball into the Blyth penalty area, where Faichney toe pokes it past the Blyth keeper for a goal back. Whitby attempt a grandstand finish and at the end of this half it is Blyth that have to defend with desperation. They too hold out to the final whistle and secure the 2-1 win that sees them into Monday’s draw for the final qualifying round.

The cup run will not be back to the Turnbull Ground this season, but it has left a very favourable impression over the last two rounds and hopefully will be revisited next season.